International Criminal Court terminates proceeding against President Uhuru

Kenya: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has terminated the proceedings against President Uhuru Kenyatta following prosecution’s move to withdraw charges facing him last year.

ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda dropped the charges in December last year saying she did not have enough evidence against him.

“Noting the Prosecution’s withdrawal of charges against Mr Kenyatta, the Chamber decided to terminate the proceedings in this case and to vacate the summons to appear against him”, reads part of ICC statement sent to newsrooms Friday.

The Chamber stressed also that, although the proceedings shall be terminated, the court retains jurisdiction over any interference with a witness or with the collection of evidence and that the protective measures ordered for witnesses and/or victims shall continue, subject to the review by the Court.

President Uhuru faced charges at the ICC as an indirect co-perpetrator, with five counts of crimes against humanity consisting of murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts allegedly committed during the post-election violence in Kenya in the dispouted 2007-2008 poll.

The charges were confirmed on January 23, 2012 and the case was committed to trial before Trial Chamber V(B).